Siaka Stevens Prime minister
Siaka Probyn Stevens (24 August 1905 – 29 May 1988) was the third prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967 to 1971 and the first president of Sierra Leone from 1971 to 1985. Although criticised for his dictatorial rule, Stevens is known for reducing the ethnic polarisation in the government of Sierra Leone by incorporating members of various ethnic groups into the government.Stevens and his All People's Congress (APC) party won the closely contested 1967 Sierra Leone general elections over the incumbent Prime Minister Sir Albert Margai of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). In April 1971, Stevens made Sierra Leone a republic and he became the first President of Sierra Leone a day after the constitution had been ratified by the Parliament of Sierra Leone.Stevens served as Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) from 1 July 1980 to 24 June 1981, and engineered the creation of the Mano River Union, a three-country economic federation of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.Stevens retired from office at the end of his term on 28 November 1985. After pressuring all other potential successors to step aside, he chose Major-General Joseph Saidu Momoh, the commander of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces, as his successor.
Personal facts
Birth date | August 24, 1905 |
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Date of death | May 29, 1988 |
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Spouse | Rebecca Stevens |
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Politician
office | Member of Parliament of Sierra Leone from Port Loko District Mayor of Freetown 3rd Prime Minister of Sierra Leone Leader of the All People's Congress (APC) Member of the Sierra Leone Police Force Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Sierra Leone Protectorate Minister of Mines Lands and Labour Member of Parliament of Sierra Leone from Western Area Urban District |
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Prime minister
From | April 26, 1968 |
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To | May 17, 1966 |